Esperanza

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT ESPERANZA

CORONA DEL MAR — Early on in the season it seems Stefan Kaluz is not only jostling for position down low, but for a shot without receiving a shot to the back, arm, chest, or face. Corona del Mar High boys’ basketball coach Ryan Schachter blames the overt physical play on his 6-foot-9 senior center’s size. “He’s an easy target because he’s so big,” Schachter said. “I think a lot of times they [referee] for size and they think that the big guy can take the punishment.

CORONA DEL MAR — The Corona del Mar High boys’ water polo team has been down early in plenty of games this season. Coach Barry O’Dea knows what that’s like. “That’s a tough thing, mentally, to handle,” O’Dea said. But the Sea Kings were able to return the favor Thursday in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs. CdM used early goals by Max Bergeson, Carter Taylor and Chris Cottrell to build the lead, cruising to a 9-4 victory over Esperanza at CdM. The Sea Kings (16-6)

It’s only three days removed from when the Newport Harbor- Los Alamitos game was supposed to take place, but it still feels like an eternity. With the Southern California wildfires making it impossible to hold normal practices, the Sailors haven’t faced an opponent in 10 days, when they fell, 28-7, to Esperanza. Newport Harbor Coach Jeff Brinkley didn’t think it would make that much of a difference, and said the week off gave the team a chance to recover from minor dings.

It was a feat not to be repeated. Newport Harbor High had already stung Esperanza once last season when the Tars upended the Aztecs, 21-13, ending a five-game winning streak. Determined not to suffer the same fate two years running, the Aztecs came out particularly inspired. Maybe too inspired, if you ask Newport Harbor (5-2, 1-1 Sunset League) coach Jeff Brinkley. “We’re walking out of there and people are spitting on us and calling us names,” Esperanza coach Bill Pendleton told the Orange County Register Friday night, referring to last season’s loss at Davidson Field.

For a photo gallery of this game, click here. PLACENTIA — The helicopter landed at midfield, stirring the crowd as it shook the stadium at halftime. Newport Harbor High was not nearby, but it desperately needed its offense to be rescued. Too bad the helicopter was for Esperanza’s homecoming festivities. The Sailors came to Esperanza’s turf, Valencia High, trying to show that last year’s upset against the Aztecs in their return to the Sunset League was no fluke.

The last time Newport Harbor High faced Esperanza, all Coach Jeff Brinkley recalls is the football field being wet. The Sailors definitely got their feet wet in their return to the Sunset League last year. In their first league game, they pulled out a stunning 21-13 victory at home. No showers are in the forecast for Round 2 tonight at 7, as Newport Harbor plays Esperanza at Valencia High. Again the Aztecs enter the game undefeated and ranked in the CIF Southern Section Pac-5 Division.

The sixth year plans to be Newport Harbor High Coach Nowell Kay’s best. Count on it he said of this boys’ cross country season. The top five runners return, adding up to what should be a successful season. Kay’s seen the girls’ team dominate, with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the CIF State championships, since he took over the boys. The last time the boys made it to state he said was in 1998, too long of a drought. This year the goal is reaching Fresno’s Woodward Park and watch his runners compete at state instead of the girls.

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Finally a team for Newport Harbor High junior setter Kyle Caldwell to find his groove against. The junior played his third volleyball match of the year Wednesday after being out with a stress fracture in his right foot. Winless Marina in the Sunset League proved to be a good opponent for Caldwell to get going against. And he did just that by recording 11 kills and four services aces to help the Sailors to a 25-23, 25-13, 25-23 sweep at Golden West College.

ANAHEIM — Jake Fleming couldn't believe it. The Newport Harbor High senior was trying to hold off Esperanza senior Quoc Doan on Thursday in the teams' Sunset League match. Fleming watched his 5-2 games advantage trimmed to 5-4. Then, the intensity of the moment shined through after a point on Fleming's serve. He went toward the net, and Doan hit a ball back over the net. The ball wasn't hit hard but appeared to accidentally strike Fleming, who was turned around, straight in the back.

NEWPORT BEACH — Jessica Robson's strength was on display once again Wednesday, in Newport Harbor High's track and field meet with Esperanza. Robson, a senior, was powerful enough to finish third in the shot put against a field specializing in throws and carry the Sailors with three victories. Robson won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.6 seconds, the long jump (17 feet, 1/4 -inch), the high jump (5-4) and her throw of 26-4 1/4 was third in the shot put, but the Sailors still lost to Esperanza, 72-63, in a battle for Sunset League supremacy.